The Volvo Group is the only automotive manufacturer to have presented seven solutions for CO2 neutral transports. And that is just a fraction of what we are working on.
Alongside quality and safety, environmental care is one of the Volvo Group’s core values. As a leading global manufacturer of heavy-duty commercial vehicles, the Volvo Group must comply with the most stringent emission legislation and is committed to reducing the environmental impact of its products.
Historically, the emissions issue has focused on nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter. New research has resulted in the development of highly efficient particle filters and catalytic converters which have limited these emissions to almost zero. Comparing the European emissions standard from 1996 with the one expected in 2012, NOx and particulate emissions will be almost 20 times lower. However, the problem of carbon dioxide emissions and their contribution to the greenhouse effect, still remains to be resolved.
In August 2007, the Volvo Group’s CEO, Leif Johansson, presented seven demonstration trucks that add no extra carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. He began his address with the following words: “We are part of the climate problem but also part of the solution”. While the traditional diesel engine is likely to be the most effective solution for many years to come, it can be modified to run on renewable fuels such as biodiesel, ethanol or DME.
Research into the best ways in which to utilise alternative energy sources is in progress. However, before these fuels can be introduced for commercial use, harmonised legislation will be required clearly to define the criteria for their contents and characteristics.
Fossil fuels remain the dominant source of energy today. One way of reducing the amount of fuel that is consumed is to improve the efficiency of vehicles. Some examples of proven methods include reducing frictional losses from the various engine and transmission components, improving the efficiency of the engine combustion and improving aerodynamics. Fuel efficiency can also be improved by optimising the engine and transmission in accordance with the specific use of the vehicle and enhanced further through more effective logistics solutions, such as extending the maximum length of commercial vehicles or introducing more efficient loading processes.
Hybrid technology is another solution which combines a combustion engine with an electric motor, enabling the vehicle to choose the best option or combine the two. A hybrid vehicle can recycle the energy produced during braking. Furthermore, the size of the combustion engine can be significantly reduced in a hybrid, as it can utilise the power from the electric motor when full power is required.
Hydrogen gas is an alternative fuel which can be used in combination with fuel cells. This technology is being closely monitored by the Volvo Group, primarily for use on city buses, but is unlikely to be a sustainable solution for long-haul traffic. Another option is to produce hydrogen from diesel and then use fuel cells to produce electricity in the auxiliary power units on a truck or boat.
In Japan, emission legislation also limits CO2 levels and the Volvo Group is committed to meeting similarly harmonised emission standards on a global level. The work that has already been done on fuel efficiency, hybrids and renewable fuels will be a good starting point for meeting these requirements in the future.